5 Exercise Apps to Help You Get Fit

Achieving your fitness goals means making them part of your lifestyle and daily habits. But easier said than done! “No time” is the most common excuse I hear from my clients as to why they don’t exercise. But if you’re like me with your cellphone glued to your hand …. and you like technology, you no longer have an excuse! Exercise apps can be great tools to track workouts, nutrition and even help you mix up your fitness routines. And some of the workouts can take as little as 7 minutes! Check out Callie Exas‘s guest blog post on her top rated fitness apps to try – whether you’re just starting out in your journey or a well seasoned gym warrior.

5 exercise apps to help you get fit

Nike Fit Club
This is the mother of training apps in our opinion. If you’re looking for an app that maximizes your time in the gym this is it! It comes with all the bells and whistles, offering personalized programs based on goals and fitness level. It offers workouts for different lengths of time (7-45 mins) and you will never get bored. The app also has super helpful video tutorials for each workout and you can download them to your phone or computer if you need to workout offline. You can also sync your music to your workouts if you want

Daily Burn
This is another app that seems to do it all. Daily Burn takes on a more holistic approach to health and wellness by providing just not the physical activity component but also the nutrition component (which we love). You can sign up for a free 30 day trial, after which point you can opt to pay a monthly fee. With it, you get get the option of personalized messages from a Daily Burn trainer, as well as a nutrition plan with recipes, and a workout program tailored to your goals and intensity. You can access your workouts anywhere but be aware that you may need to invest in equipment for at home use and a fast internet connection is key! That being said, you also get access to over 100 other different workouts so it’s pretty impossible to get bored. Overall this is a comprehensive fitness and health app that includes everything you’d need to reach your fitness goals from specialized workouts to online forums, to personalized nutrition and training programs.

Couch to 5K
New to running? No prob here. I’ve always loved/hated running. It’s so easy. You can literally do it anywhere. All you need are sneakers. In the past, I’ve had people ask me how to start running – my advice is to put sneakers on and go outside, but if you need a plan, this app is the way to go. The app works to get your off your couch and running a 5k with 20-30 minute workouts/runs 2-3 times a week for 9 weeks. It helps to track your mileage and time and gives notifications while using the app to keep you motivated. If your goal is to run a 5k, Couch To 5K can help you get there with minimal fuss. Side note: You don’t need a buddy but it’s always more fun when you have one. My pup Finley enjoyed getting fit with me on these runs too

Perigree’s Seven Minute Workout
This is a “Can Do Anywhere” fitness app, literally. I did this workout in a hotel room without any extra equipment or sneakers. The app allows your to choose the type of workout- Full, Upper, or lower body, based on Goal (Healthy, Weightloss, Sporty). It also sends you reminders throughout the day. You can choose how many circuits you’d like to do – 7 minutes – 50 minutes. Each exercise lasts 30 seconds, so the workout stays fresh and manageable at the same time. The exercises are simple. As I said before, no equipment is needed and there’s extremely little time investment. For beginners, this app is great to start with just the 7 minutes and work toward increasing your number of circuits. It doesn’t come with too many bells and whistles but it gets the job done.

Daily YogaGreat for beginners and novices alike. The app offers a wide array of yoga workouts based on your goals and they’re perfect for those of us who are crunched for time. Hello 30 minutes workouts! The visuals and audio a really clean and user friendly. Lastly, Daily Yoga provides a community like forum where you can connect with other users and yogis to ask questions, socialize, and learn more about yoga practice.

Fitocracy
A fitness community app that helps you up your fitness game and track your workouts. The app is free or your can opt in to get notifications from a personal trainer. The app adds a level of motivation by making fitness fun. You can earn points, unlock achievements, and provides a social community that allows your to interact with other participants. Studies show that working out in groups helps with motivation and consistency, so why not!? We enjoyed the workouts and the competition factor of being able to win points and achievements kept up engagement. The social fitness community aspect make this a great app if you’re not the best at self motivation and consistency.

Headspace
Mental health is the foundation of physical fitness after all, most challenges we face begin with “Mind over Matter”. Meditation is a great way to get your head in the “game”. It’s also proven to help lower blood pressure, improve sleep, alleviate chronic pain and depression/anxiety symptoms. If you’re thinking, “but I’m not a sit still and be quiet” type of person, trust me you are not alone. Headspace is meditation made simple with guided practice for different lengths of time and different purposes that practical and down to earth. It’s great for those of us who are just getting started and trying to be more present and mindful.

I’d like to thank Callie Exas for her great blog post! Callie has a diverse background with experience in digital media, marketing, nutrition and fitness. After working in advertising for roughly 5 years, Callie decided to pursue her passion for health by going back to school for an MPH in Community Nutrition at NYU. She has since continued her education, pursuing a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition and the Dietetic Internship at Brooklyn College. Callie works with individual clients, companies, children, and parents throughout New York City and Brooklyn teaching fitness and nutrition education. She loves traveling, good food, good wine and good people. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Tim, and dog, Finley and makes sure they both eat their veggies. Check out Callie’s previous blog post on 20 Healthy Foods from Trader Joes

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